Joe the Plumber ‘angry’ McCain backed bailout

updated 1:57 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2008

TOLEDO, Ohio - Turns out that "Joe the Plumber" isn't such a big fan of John McCain after all.

America's most famous plumber said he was appalled by the Republican presidential candidate's reasons for supporting the government's $700 billion bank rescue plan, and he said they nearly caused him to abandon McCain.

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, who became a household name in the final weeks of the presidential campaign, said he asked McCain why he voted for the bank bailout and was stunned by some of the answers.

"I was angry," Wurzelbacher told conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Tuesday. "In fact, I wanted to get off the bus after I talked to him."

Wurzelbacher, who endorsed McCain a week before the election and joined him on the campaign trail, didn't say exactly what set him off, hinting that would be in his book that is due out this month.

He said the only reason he didn't get off the McCain bandwagon was "because the thought of Barack Obama becoming president scares me even more."

Wurzelbacher, 34, gained his national attention when Obama told him during a campaign stop that he wanted to "spread the wealth around" and their exchange about Obama's tax plan was widely reported. McCain repeatedly cited "Joe the Plumber" in a debate, saying Obama's plan would hurt people like him who want to own their own businesses.

Wurzelbacher also campaigned with vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He had only praise for her, calling Palin the real deal.

"It disgusts me on how often they try to bash her just for her sincerity," he said. "She really wants to work for America."

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